Thickness gauge



March 6, 1928.

- R. W. MICHLER THICKNESS GAUGE Filed Aug. 1'7. 1927 \NVENTOK iLw. mean-,9.

'eTToRNE-Ys Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

30mm w. MIGHLER, on PERRIS, CALIFORNIA.

ZTHIGKNESS GAUGE.

Application filed August 1?, 1927. Serial No. 213,539.

My invention relates to thickness gauges in which a plurality of gauge blades are pivotally mounted in the handle and so arranged that any one of the blades maybe quickly moved into operative position and firmly held in such position with yielding pressure. I The thickness gauge is especially intended for adjusting the valve clearance in motor vehicle engines, but is of general application. i I

It is an object of this invention 'to provide a supporting handle for the gauge blades which is extremely simple in construction and which will hold the blades, when in inoperative position, within the handleand yet allow their extension into operativ'e position instantly and which will clamp the blade in operative position by means of a pair of jaw members, which are part ofthe handle itself.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as 'the description proceeds, my invention consists in the construction and arrangement 7 of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which 7 form a part of the specification I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the thick ness gauge showing the blades extended from the handle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof showing one of the blades in operative position.

Figure 3 shows a similar view with all the blades in inoperative position within the handle;

Figure 4 is an end view of the thickness gauge looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, my thickness gauge consists of a plurality of blades 10, of which-I have shown four in number, which are pivoted to a handle, generally indicated by the numeral 11, by means of a bolt 12 passing through the handle and the blades. The handle 11 consists of a flat strip of spring metal, preferably steel, bent upon itself and forming two halves or sections 13 and 14 which are identical in every respect.

The sections 13 and 14 have their free ends extend beyond the bolt 12 forming clamping members 15 and 16 respectively These clamping members are bent outward y as at 15' and 16 respectively, their extreme outer ends converging and tending to contact with one another. The outer-edges of theclamping members 15 and 16 are convex in outline, as shown at 15 and 16 respectively, so that the middle portions only will tend to contact. A

The sections-'13 and 14 are curved inward- =ly "toward each other, as at 13 and 14 respectively, to yieldingly press the blades 10,

located within the handle 11, together to prevent their accidental movement from jtheir position within the handle. It takes a conscious effort "to move them or a y of the blades into operative position. For this purpose "thesections 13 and 14- are provided with oppositely arranged cutout portions 13 21116114 respectively whereby the blades for any of them "may be seized between the thumb and forefinger and moved out of the handle.

In Figs. and 3 the [clamping action of the jaw members 15 and/16 upon one of the blades 10 in operative position is illustrated. It will be seen that said clamping members contact only along the median line of the blade. The clamping pressure may be adjusted by means of the bolt 12.

When the blade 10 is in extended or operative position, shown in Figs. 2 and 4, it is firmly held like a knife blade and will resist a fair amount of force to move it either to the right or left in pivotal relation with the bolt 10, thus greatly facilitating its use in the adjustment of the clearance space of valves and the like.

Various changes may be made in the con- I struction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A thickness gauge comprising a plurality of gauge blades, a handle therefor consisting of a single fiat strip of spring metal bent upon itself forming two sections connected at one end, a bolt spaced from the free ends of said sections, passing through said handle and said blades, the free ends of said sections beyond said bolt being bent outwardly, with their extreme outer ends converging toform a pair of spring clamp members for holding any of said blades in operative position, the outer edges of said clamp members being convex in outline and tending to conta t with each other at their middle points only, said sections being pro sided. with oppositely arranged cut out poi tions and being bent inwardly to yieldingly clamp the blades between said sections.

2. A thickness gauge comprising a plurality of gauge blades, a handle therefor consisting of a single fiat strip of spring metal bent upon itself forming two sections connected at one end, a bolt spaced from the free ends of said sections, passing through said handle and said blades, the free ends of said sections beyond said bolt being bent outwardly, with their extreme outer ends converging to form a pair of spring clamp members for holding any of said blades in operative position, said sections being provided with oppositely arranged cut out portions and being bent inwardly to yieldingly clamp the blades between said sections.

3. A thickness gauge comprising a plurality of gauge blades, a handle therefor consisting of a single flat strip of spring metal bent upon itself forming two sections connected at one end, a bolt spaced from the free ends of said sections, passing through said handle and said blades, the free ends of said sections beyond said bolt being bent outwardly, with their extreme outer ends converging to form a pair of spring clamp members for holding any of said blades in operative position, and being bent inwardly to yieldingly clamp the blades between said sections.

1-; A thickness gauge comprising a plurality of gauge blades, a handle therefor con sisting of a single flat strip of spring metal bent upon itself forming two sections connected at one end, a fastening member spaced from the free ends of said sections passing through said handle and said blades, the free ends of said sections beyond said fastening member being bent outwardly, and with their extreme outer ends converging to form a pair of spring clamp members for holding any of said blades in operative position, the said sections being bent inwardly to yieldingly clamp the blades between said sections.

5. A thickness gauge comprising a plnrality of gauge blades, a handle therefor consisting of a single flat strip of spring metal bent upon itself forming two SQL'UHIIS connected at one end, a fastening member spaced from the free ends of said sections passing through said handle and said blades, the free ends of said sections beyond said fastening member being bent out wardly, and

with their extreme outer ends converging to form a pair of spring clamp members for holding any of said blades in operative position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT W. MICHLER. 

